Ukraine's Lost Trade Opportunity

The delayed economic agreement with Brussels would spur domestic reform.

By
Christopher A. Hartwell

Sept. 24, 2014 2:04 pm ET

The European Union announced earlier this month that it has agreed with Ukraine to delay implementation of the Association Agreement between the two sides until the start of 2016. Most observers view this as a concession to Russia since the deal marked the Westward turn that triggered Moscow's interventions in the first place. But whatever its international significance, delaying the deal is also a domestic mistake for Kiev. The Ukrainian government risks losing a rare opportunity to rescue Ukraine from its economic failures of the past two decades.